"Time and again people begged you to stop. Time and again you ramped up the pressure."

Falder was arrested in June last year after three traumatised victims, who were tricked into sending him humiliating images, attempted to end their own lives.

A previous hearing at Birmingham Crown Court was told Falder coerced male and female victims into producing "increasingly severe self-generated indecent images of themselves, the focus of these images being to humiliate and degrade".

Opening the facts of the case against Falder, prosecutor Ruona Iguyovwe told the earlier hearing many of the images were then distributed on so-called "hurtcore" websites showing material depicting sexual and physical abuse.

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Falder, who treated victims both as sex objects and as objects of derision, posted on one forum "100 things we want to see at least once".

In remarks in that post, he suggested "a young girl being used as a dartboard", production of a video depicting a child's bones being "slowly and deliberately broken", and the abuse of "a paralysed child".

It also emerged during the earlier hearing Falder initially duped victims into providing images by posing as a female artist who wanted to turn them into life drawings.

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The operation to catch Falder, who used specialist software to hide his online accounts, was aided by GCHQ, the United States Homeland Security department and law enforcement bodies in Israel, Slovenia, Australia and New Zealand.

The former post-doctoral researcher in geophysics at the University of Birmingham is due to be sentenced by Judge Philip Parker QC at the city's Crown Court.

An NSPCC spokesman said: “Falder is a despicable predator who targeted vulnerable victims and encouraged the most appalling abuse of young children.

“Behind every child abuse image or video is a victim who has endured unimaginable pain and suffering – as this disturbing case demonstrates.

“Abusers like Falder often use blackmail and threats to make victims feel they have nowhere to turn. But we would urge anyone in this situation to contact police or the NSPCC Helpline 0808 800 5000, where trained counsellors are available 24/7. Childline is also available for young people on 0800 1111 or www.childline.org.uk.”

Matthew Falder

Matt Sutton, NCA senior investigating officer, said: “In more than 30 years of law enforcement I’ve never come across an offender whose sole motivation was to inflict such profound anguish and pain. Matthew Falder revelled in it.

“I’ve also never known such an extremely complex investigation with an offender who was technologically savvy and able to stay hidden in the darkest recesses of the dark web.

“This investigation represents a watershed moment.

“Falder is not alone so we will continue to develop and deliver our capabilities nationally for the whole law enforcement system to stop offenders like him from wrecking innocent lives.

“I commend the victims for their bravery and I urge anyone who is being abused online to report it. There is help available.”

Ruona Iguyovwe, from the Crown Prosecution Service’s International Justice and Organised Crime Division, said: “Matthew Falder is a highly manipulative individual who clearly enjoyed humiliating his many victims and the impact of his offending has been significant.

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“There was a high degree of sophistication and significant planning by Falder due to his encryption of software and technology in his electronic communication, and the use of multiple fake online identities and encrypted email addresses.

“The CPS worked with the National Crime Agency and international partners from an early stage in order to gather compelling evidence against Falder, resulting in his guilty pleas.”

Advice for children and young people

If you have been pressured into sending sexual images or videos online and you have been threatened as a result, this is blackmail and you are not to blame. Remove yourself from the conversation, do not respond further and speak to an adult you trust.

For further online safety advice visit www.thinkuknow.co.uk, and for confidential support call the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000.

Advice for adults victims of blackmail

Report to your local police force, who will deal with your report in confidence and will not judge you;

Don’t communicate – further with the offender, if you can take screenshots, suspend your account (but don’t delete it) and also make use of any online reporting options via the platform the communication took place.

If possible make a note of all the details provided by the offender and do not delete any correspondence.

If you are concerned about your safety online please visit www.getsafeonline.org or call the Samaritans on 116 123 for confidential support.